Blackberry plant variety named ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’, selected for being a spinelessness variety with good plant health, as well as for the flavor, size, and firmness of fruit, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed variety of blackberry plant is ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blackberry is the common name for a multitude of plant species bearing dark purple to black aggregate fruit in the genus Rubus of the family Rosaceae. Most blackberries are within the subgenus Rubus.

Native chiefly to the northern temperate regions, blackberries are now being cultivated as a valuable fruit crop in many areas of the world, particularly in Europe, North America and Central America. Recognized for their high contents of antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Blackberry fruit are typically consumed as fresh fruit, individually quick frozen fruit, or in prepared foods, such as purées, juices, jellies, jams, grocery items, baked goods, and snack foods.

Globally, Mexico is the leading producer of blackberries, with nearly the entire crop being produced for export into the off-season fresh markets in North America and Europe. The Mexican market is almost entirely from the cultivar ‘Tupi’ (also spelled as ‘Tupy’). In the United States, Oregon is the leading commercial blackberry producer, followed by the state of California.

Blackberries are perennial plants that typically bear biennial stems (known as “canes”) from a perennial root system. The two cane types are primocanes, or first-year canes, which are usually vegetative, and floricanes, which are the same canes and produce fruit in the next growing season. In its first year, a new cane, the primocane, grows vigorously to its full length of three to six meters in a growth habit of erecting, arching, or trailing along the ground and bearing large compound leaves with 3, 5, or 7 leaflets; it does not produce any flowers. In its second year, the cane becomes a floricane and stops elongating, but the lateral buds break to produce flowering laterals that bear fruit.

Recently, primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have been developed that are capable of flowering and fruiting on first-year canes. Primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have several advantages, including potential of two crops on the same plant in the same year, reduction in pruning costs by mowing of canes, avoidance of winter injury, and production of fruit in an extended geographic area. However, primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties are also subject to a number of challenges, such as poor heat tolerance, lesser fruit quality, and low yield.

Blackberry is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop. Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of blackberry plant. In particular, there is a need for improved varieties of blackberry plant that are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to an improved variety of blackberry plant. In particular, the invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus), which has been denominated as ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’.

Blackberry plant variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ was discovered in Santa Cruz, Calif. in July of 2012 and originated from a cross between the female parent blackberry plant ‘DrisBlackSix’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,502) and the male parent blackberry plant ‘BN809.2’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new variety was first asexually propagated via root cuttings in Santa Cruz, Calif. in October of 2012.

‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ was subsequently asexually propagated via root cuttings, and underwent testing in Santa Cruz, Calif. from 2014 to 2019 (five years). The present variety has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via root cuttings.

‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ exhibits the following distinguishing characteristics over other similar varieties when grown under normal horticultural practices in Santa Cruz, Calif.:

-   -   1. Upright growth habit;     -   2. Medium anthocyanin coloration during rapid growth on young         shoot;     -   3. Elliptic fruit shape in longitudinal section; and     -   4. Fruiting on current year's cane.

‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ was selected for being a spinelessness variety with good plant health, as well as for the flavor, size, and firmness of fruit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are two to five years old.

FIG. 1 illustrates fruit of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ at various stages of development.

FIG. 2 illustrates flowers of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ at various stages of development.

FIG. 3 illustrates leaves of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’, with the lower side of a leaf shown on the left, and the upper side of a leaf shown on the right.

FIG. 4 illustrates a section of a cane of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’.

FIG. 5 illustrates plants of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’. The data that define these characteristics are based on observations taken in Santa Cruz, Calif. from 2014 to 2019. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ was taken from plants that were two to five years old. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.         -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.         -   Common name.—Blackberry.         -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘DrisBlackSix’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,502).         -   Male parent.—‘BN809.2’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation.—Root cuttings.         -   Growth habit.—Upright. -   Canes:     -   -   Fruiting lateral length (4^(th) lateral from tip).—54.4 cm.         -   Number of fruits per fruiting lateral.—13.7.         -   Internodal distance.—6.8 cm.         -   Dormant cane.—Anthocyanin color: RHS 185A (Deep reddish             purple). Predominant distribution of branches: Only on upper             half. Cross-section: Angular. Presence of spines: Absent. -   Young shoots:     -   -   Anthocyanin color (during rapid growth).—RHS 184B (Moderate             red).         -   Intensity of green color.—RHS 139D (Moderate yellow-green).         -   Number of glandular hairs.—Medium. -   Leaves:     -   -   Time of leaf bud burst.—Medium.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 117.7 mm. Width: 98.4 mm.             Length/width ratio: 1.19. Lobing: Absent. Shape in             cross-section: U-shaped. Undulation of margin: Absent or             very weak.         -   Lateral leaflets (basal pair).—Length: 104.3 mm. Width:             71.4 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.46.         -   Rachis length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral             leaflets.—62.3 mm.         -   Rachis color.—RHS 173A (Dark reddish orange).         -   Petiole.—Length: 104.8 mm. Diameter: 3.4 mm. Color: RHS 173A             (Dark reddish orange).         -   Leaflet.—Type of incision of margin: Bi-serrate. Depth of             margin incisions: Medium. Apex shape: Truncate. Base shape:             Obtuse.         -   Leaf.—Predominant number of leaflets: 5. Type: Palmate.             Glossiness of upper side: Weak. Intensity of green color of             upper side: RHS 139A (Dark yellowish green). Color of lower             side: RHS 141C (Strong yellowish green). -   Flowers:     -   -   Diameter.—46.7 mm.         -   Petal.—Length: 24 mm. Width: 10.6 mm. Length/width ratio:             2.26. Color: RHS NN155C (White). Number of petals per             flower: 5. Petal shape (overall): Oval. Apex shape: Rounded.             Base shape: Attenuate.         -   Sepal.—Length: 9.5 mm. Width: 4 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Color             of upper side: RHS 144B (Strong yellowish green). Color of             lower side: RHS 141C (Strong yellowish green).         -   Number of flowers observed at 3^(rd) node from tip of             lateral.—3.3.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 16.6 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: RHS 141C             (Strong yellowish green).         -   Stigma.—Color: RHS 144D (Light yellowish green).         -   Style.—Color: RHS 144D (Light yellowish green).         -   Filament.—Color: RHS 157C (Pale yellowish green).         -   Anther.—Color: RHS 152D (Dark greenish yellow).         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 152D (Dark greenish yellow).         -   Time of beginning of flowering on previous year's             cane.—Medium.         -   Time of beginning of flowering on current year's             cane.—Medium. -   Fruit:     -   -   Length of mature fruit.—30.9 mm.         -   Diameter of mature fruit.—25.5 mm.         -   Ratio of length to width.—1.21.         -   Number of drupelets per fruit.—Medium.         -   Size of drupelets.—Medium.         -   Fruit shape in longitudinal section.—Elliptic.         -   Fruit color.—RHS 203A (Black).         -   Fruiting on current year's cane.—Present.         -   Harvest interval on current year's cane.—June-August.         -   Yield.—22,000 to 33,000 pounds per acre of fruit per season             from 24- to 36-month-old plants when grown in Watsonville,             Calif.         -   Market use of fruit.—Fresh market. -   Resistance to pests and diseases:     -   -   Redberry mite (acalitus essigi).—Moderately resistant.         -   Fusarium wilt (fusarium oxysporum).—Resistant.         -   Verticillium wilt (verticillium spp.).—Moderately resistant.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ differs from the female parent ‘DrisBlackSix’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,502) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ has an upright growth habit, medium anthocyanin coloration during rapid growth on young shoot, an elliptic fruit shape in longitudinal section, and fruiting on current year's cane, whereas ‘DrisBlackSix’ has a semi-upright growth habit, strong anthocyanin coloration during rapid growth on young shoot, a narrow ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section, and no fruiting on current year's cane.

‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ differs from the male parent ‘BN809.2’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ has higher vigor than ‘BN809.2’.

‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ differs from commercial blackberry variety ‘DrisBlackThree’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,725) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ has an upright plant growth habit, spines absent on dormant cane, predominantly five leaflets per leaf, and an elliptic fruit shape in longitudinal section, whereas ‘DrisBlackThree’ has an upright to semi-upright plant growth habit, spines present on dormant cane, predominantly three leaflets per leaf, and an oblong fruit shape in longitudinal section.

‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ differs from commercial blackberry variety ‘DrisBlackTwo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,002) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ has an upright plant growth habit, a medium length of fruiting lateral, an angular cross-section of dormant cane, and an elliptic fruit shape in longitudinal section, whereas ‘DrisBlackTwo’ has a semi-upright plant growth habit, a long to very long length of fruiting lateral, a rounded to angular cross-section of dormant cane, and an ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant designated ‘DrisBlackTwentyTwo’ as shown and described herein. 